Container cleaning machine



' Y 1944. A. c. EVERETT CONTAINER CLEANING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 27, 1942 2 6 W. 7 R w a 1 W4 m CW... 1 M 2 w 2. i m m a 1 E w 1 d (fl m 2 "mu 4 z F 1 E a 6 m w 1 e 1-- a s 1 u w 2 m July 25, 1944. A. c. EVERETT 2,354,308

CONTAINER CLEANING MACHINE Filed May 27, 1942 65heets-Sheet 2 INVENTCR.

July 25, 1 944. A. c EVERETT I CONTAINER CLEANING MACHINE Filed May 27, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 N m mm T wwfi m 1 N .M 4 a W C VQ WQQ- M M NM 2 E f www 5% n m 9mm a m m m w N: .Wv i E July 25, 1944. A. c. EVERETT CONTAINER CLEANING MACHINE Filed May 27, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 3 INVENTOR. I W715; CD/MQ awn-7f flog/M1 @zmcw Ff A":

I LL14 Ah I July 25, 1944.

A.-c:. EVERETT CONTAINER CLEANING MACHINE Filed May 27, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 m T V m AIL/Au: Q Q 5. C

As shown in Fig. l, the motor 2 4is mounted on a sliding'base 25 arranged to be manually ad justed by ahandwheel 2'I to maintain the belt connection 26 in a taut condition.

containers in position to be received by their respective supporting members I4 -in timed relation to the movement of the rotary carrier. As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the containers be-" 48rotatably mounted on a vertical stationary I shaft 50, and the pusherfingers 38 are pivotally mounted between the spacedflanges 40 of the rotary member 42, as best shown inFig. 2. The pivotal fingers 38 are fast uponpins 52 journaled in the spaced flanges 40, and provisionis made for rocking the fingers 38 from their extended position to a retracted position when the container has been advanced onto an individual supporting member I4 being carried past the same. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the retracting movement of the fingers 38 is effected by' a. stationary cam 54 fast on the upper end of the vertical shaft 50. Each pusher fingeris provided with a cam lever 56 'whichcarries' a cam roll 58 arranged to cooperate with the cam 54 during the. rotation of the feeding member. Each finger is also provided with a spring 60 arranged to hold its cam roll in cooperative engagement with the cam 54.

The container feeding mechanism 36 is arranged to be driven through connections from the main driving shaft 28 including a worm and Worm gear connection 62 to a vertical shaft 64 which is provided at its upper end With' a sprocket 66. The sprocket 66 is connected by a chain 68 to a sprocket I secured to a hollow shaft or bushing I2 rotatably mounted 'on avertical shaft I4. The bushing I2 extends through the frame member I6 and is provided at its lower end with a flanged member I8 forming part of a f separable driving mechanism normally engaged but which is adapted to slip out of operative 'e'ngagement in the event that the feeding mechanism should encounter abnormal resistance. The flanged member 18 is'provided with a notch 80 which is adapted to be engaged by a tooth 82 provided on a disk 84 rotatable with but vertically slidable uponthe shaft I4. A coil spring 86 normally holds the disk 84 in operative engagement to drive the shaft 14 but if a jam occurs, the tooth 82 will slip out of the notch 80 and lower the disk against the resistance of the spring 86. The upper end'of the vertical shaft "is provided with a gear 88 which meshes with a gear 90 fast on the hollow shaft 48 upon which the rotary member 42 is mounted. Thus in theoperation of the machine the rotary feeding mechanism 36 is rotated at a uniform rate of speed in timed relation to the movement of the rotary carrier I0.

In the operation of the machine, the containers are carried along the conveyer I8 in contiguous relation and in order to register successive containers with the container engaging fingers 38 provision is made for engaging and releasing successive foremost containers in timed relation to the movement of the rotary feeding mechanism 36. As herein shown, a star wheel 92 is rotatably Provision is made for controlling the feed of ""Iflounted adjacent the conveyer and is provided the containers whereby to present successiveq with a plurality of equally spaced teeth 94 arranged to enter between successive containers as they are delivered and to release such containers in timed relation to the arrival of the container pusher fingers 38.

- The star wheel 92 is arranged to be driven continuously and in timed relation to the feeding mechanism 36 through connections from a second sprocket 96 formed integrally with the sprocket I0. The sprocket '96 is connected by a chain 98 to a sprocket I00 fast on a vertical shaft I02. A second sprocket I04 fast on the shaft I02 is connected by a chain I06 to a sprocket I08 secured to a shaft I I0. The shaft H0 is connected by bevel gears H2, H4 to a shaft 'I I6. which is connected by a chain and sprocket drive II8 to an elongated shaft I20. The forward end of the shaft I20 is connected by bevel gears I22, I24 to a vertical shaft I26 upon which the star wheel 92 is securely mounted. As best shown in Fig. 3, a separable driving connection, indicated generally at I28, may be provided in 'thejdrive to the star wheel in order to prevent damage thereto in the event of a jam.

1 Fromthe description thus far it will be observed'that the containers are transferred consecutively from the belt I8 into a position to be received by their respective supporting units I4 on the carrier I0, and, as best shownin Figs. 1 and 2, during the transferring operation the con- -tainers are moved from the belt I8 across a stationary platform' I30 and then onto their respective supporting and elevating brackets I32 forming part of the supporting units [4. Provision is made for maintaining the horizontally extended portion I34 of the brackets flush with the stationary platform I 30 during the transferring operation, as will" be hereinafter described; and during the operation of the machine the'relative movement of the continuously rotated'feed- .ing mechanism 36 and the continuously moving carrier I0 is such that a container .is advanced into a central position on the portion I34 whereupon the pusher finger 38 is retracted, as above described@ As illustrated in Fig. 5, each supporting bracket I32 is attached to a 'member I36 adjustably secured to a cam rod I38. The rod I38'is slidinglymounted in a housing I40 pivotallycarried by a rotatable spider I42. compression spring I44 interposed between a.

shoulder on the upper portion of the cam. rod

I38 and the bottom of thehousing I40. is arranged to elevate the supporting bracket .132 to present the mouth of thebottle into engagement with a guide member I46 attached'to the pivotally carried housing I40. The movements of the cam rod I38 and the bottle, elevating member "I32 are controlled by a stationary cam I48 whichcooperates with a cam r'oll I50 provided onthe upper end of each cam rod. As'best shown in Fig. ;6, a the cam I48 is designedto maintain.the elevat-- ing member I32 flush with the stationaryplatform I30 during its movement past the container receiving station, and thereafter.the; ;cam r011 leaves the cam to-permit thespring: I 44,-,to ele'- vatethe container .into engagement 'withsthe guide member I46, as above described. v .As herein shown, each-housing I 40, w hichcarrice the elevating-member I32 and the guide member I46, is -pivotallymounted on a pin -I 52 carried in the rotary spider I 42. As bestshown in, Fig.5 the housing is provided with ears I54 units-past the receiving and discharging stations,

and. for rocking the pivotally mounted units.- into radial alignment with their respective cleaning 7 nozzles I2 after leaving the receiving station. As shown in Fig. 6, this movement is effected by a stationary'cam I58, which is arranged to cooperate with aroller I60 carried byan armul62 extending from and formedintegrally with'the housing I40. The camv I58 is bolted to a flanged portion of a stationary supporting member I80. The camis designed to hold the housing I40 and the parts carried thereby in a radial position until the units approach the discharge station whereupon the housing is again rocked to present the container in a vertical and upright position.

Referring now to Figs. -1 and 5, as therein shown, thesp-ider I42 is bolted to .a flange I64 formed at one endof an elongated hollow shaft or. sleeve I56 arranged to be rotated through connections from the vertical shaft I02. A bevel gear I66 secured to the upper end of the vertical shaft is arranged to mesh with a bevel gear .I'Itl fast on a short intermediate shaft I72 which is also provided with a sprocket I14 connected by a chain I76 to a large'sprocket I78 keyed to the other end of the elongated sleeve I66. .The hol-' low sleeve I66 is rotated in hearings in the supporting'member I86 which is attachedto a slide member I82 arranged to slide vertically in suit able guideways I84 formed in an upright J86 forming part of the machine frame. The entire carrier, unit-is thus vertically adjustable to adapt:

the machine for operation upon containers of various heights. .Theposition of the supporting member I80. and the parts carried thereby is adjustably'regulated by a handwheel I88 connected by bevel gears I90, I92 to a vertical threadedrod I94 which is received in athreaded portion I96 of a bracket I96 attached to the supporting member' I80, as best shown inrFig. 1. The vertical driving shaft I62 may be axially movable in the drive sprockets I06; I04 and arranged to be ro-. tated therewith in any usual or preferred manner in order to adapt the driving connections to the adjusted positions.

From the description thusl far it: will befob served that during the operation of the machine;

the rotary spider I42 is continuously rotated and that the containers positionedon the support ing units I4 are elevated into engagement with,

guide members I46 whereupon the supporting units are rocked into alignment. with their re As the carrier is.

spective'cleaning nozzles I2. rotated the containers are turned into an inverted position during which time the cleaning operation is performed. Referring now to Figs. 1, 4'and 5, provision is made for supporting and rotating the cleaning nozzles I2 in alignment with the containersand for projecting and with-. drawing eachcle'aning nozzl into and from its; individual container during the rotation of the i carrier Ills Asherein shown,- each nozzle I2 is mounted in a slide block260 arranged to slide 1111011" radially arranged guide. members 262 extending-from a hub. 204 rotatably mounted on an.elongated,--'ho11ow, stationary shaft 206 supported withinthehollow sleeve I66. The guide members 202 are heldfastin. the vhub 204 by screws 2m, and are tied together at their outer ends by a circular rim 2 I 2, as, best shown in Fig. 4; ;The.rotatably mounted hub 2Mis provided with a 'flanged portion 2 I 3'IWhiCh is bolted to the spider M2 by bolts 2I5 to. rotatewith the latter. As clearly shown in-Fig. 1, an extension 208 from thebracket I98 is clamped to; the further end of the hollow shaft 206 in order; to prevent rota- .tion thereof. -Each slide block-20B is provided with a I'O11I'2|.4 arranged to cooperate with a closed cam-2pI6 keyedjto the forward end of the stationary hollowshaft 206. In the operation of the-machine the nozzles I2 are arranged to be moved from a fully withdrawn position as illustrated in the lower'section of Fig. .5 to a fully inserted position;- asillustrated'in the upper section-of Fig.5. -Each guide member 202 is providedwith an elongated key 2I8 which is receivedin a groove in-the slide member to prevent the latter, fromturning 0n the guide member.

Provisionis made for releasinga stream of air throughthe nozzles :I2 as they are being rotated in order .110 perform the cleaning operation, and; asherein shown," each guidemember'2il2 is provided with a passageway. 2201'having an opening 2II atone endthereof arranged to communicate withthe nozzle IZ-and having an opening 223 at'its other end arranged to communicate with an opening '222 formed-ina circular plate 224 at tached to the inner face of the hub 226 ofthe stationary earn 266, as clearly shown in Fig; 5.

The opening 222 is connected by a short pipe 226;

which extends through the hub 226, to a flexible connection 23lllea'ding to a'chamber 232 formed in" the lower section of the hub 226. The chamber 232 is connected by a passageway 236, formed in a. cover member-23B secured to the outer end o'ffthe hub226,-to an"elongated pipe 234 extending through the hollowshaft 266., .The elongated pipe 234 is 'connectedby a flexible hose 246 to an air pump 242 directly connected with the main driving motor 24. Thus,'in operation, air under pressureissupplied through, the pipe 234, passagewa'y 2'35, chamber 232,fiexible connection 236 andpipe 228 tofthe opening 222. As shown in Figs. 4 and 7, the opening .222 comprises anarcm nozzle I2 and its slide block 206 only when the latter. is in its extended position, a short passageway 244 being providedadjacent the outlet 22I so that communication may be established a short time prior to the movement of the nozzle into itsfully extended position and also for a shorttime during the withdrawal. thereof. Thus, in operation, the airunder pressure is released through the nozzles I2iinto the-container only when the nozzle is inserted in the-container and ate slotfarrang'ed to communicate with the pas--.

only during the time the container is in a substantially inverted position.

In order to prevent damage to the nozzle in the event that it should encounter a choked neck bottle or one in which the mouth of the bottle is restricted or entirely closed due to faulty manufacture, provision is made for permitting the nozzle to yield and move with relation to the slide block 200. As shown in Fig. 9, the nozzle is closed at one end by a cap 245 and is held in its normal or operative position by a friction plug 246. In operation, should the open end of the nozzle I2 encounter an obstacle in its path it is permitted to slide through the block 200 against the resistance of the'friction plug 246. Thereafter, when the slide block 200 is again retracted, the capped end of the nozzle is arranged to engage the hub 204 which operates to push the nozzle out again into its normal operative position.

In the operation of the machine, the air being blown into the container is permitted to escape, together with the dust and foreign particles, through the mouth of the container and through the opening in the guide member I46 to the atmosphere, the inversion of the container during the cleaning operation aiding in the suspension of the foreign particles in the air stream and their ultimate discharge. Provision is made for receiving and carrying away the dust laden air being discharged into the atmosphere from the mouth of the containers and as herein shown, see Figs. 5 and 8, a plurality of suction tubes 250 having flared ends 252 are provided adjacent the mouths of the containers. The suction tubes 250 are radially supported in the flanged portion 2I3 of the hub 204 and are arranged to communicate with the interior of the hollow shaft 206 through a chamber 254 formed between the hub 204 and the adjacent face of the spider I42. The hollow shaft 206 is provided with an opening 256 and the dust laden air is confined to the upper portion of the chamber 254 by a member 258 bolted to the stationary shaft 206, as clearly shown in Fig. 8. The forward end of the hollow shaft is plugged by a member 260 and the other end is connected by a pipe 262 to a blower 264, see Fig. 2, which is arranged to exhaust into a dust collecting chamber 266. A telescoping section 268 of the pipe 262 permits elongation or shortening of the connection when it is desired to change the vertical adjustment of the carrier unit, as above described. The blower 264 may be driven by a belt connection 210 from a separate motor 212 supported on a pivotal base 216 attached to the frame of the machine. in Figs. 5 and 8, the radially arranged suction pipes 250 are disposed at a slight angle to the radially extended guides 202 and the flared portion 252 of the suction pipes is provided with openings 253 arranged to receive the adjacent face of slide block 200. It will also be observed that the ends of the guidemembers 202 and slide blocks 200 adjacent the mouth of the container are cut at an angle such as to guide the air exhausted from the containers into its suction open- Provision is made for removing the cleaned containers from the supporting members I4 during the continuous movement of the latter when they arrive at the discharge station, indicated generally at 280, and for transferring the containers back onto the conveyer belt I8. As above described, the cam I58 operates to rock each unit I4 from a radial position to a vertical position with relation to the carrier unit I0 as the sup- As shown lCI porting units approach the discharge station. The containers being thus carried are brought into engagement with the discharge portion 282 of the stationary guide rail 46 and into the path of a continuously rotated toothed wheel 284 arranged to transfer successive containers from the travelling platform I34, across the stationary platform I30, and'then onto the continuously travelling conveyor belt I8, as shown in Fig. 3.

When a supportingunit I4 is rocked into a vertical position, as above described, provision is made for abruptly lowering the platform I34 in order to release the container from clamping engagement with its guide member I46 and to dispose the platform I34 in a position flush with the stationary platform I30 to permit the container to be transferred thereto. As best shown in Fig. 6, for this purpose, a cam arm 285 pivotally mounted on the stationary cam I48 is arranged to be rocked into engagement with the roller I50 of the elevating unit I4 immediately prior to the engagement of the roller with the stationary cam I48. The rocking of the cam arm 285 is effected by a stationary cam 286 formed on the peripheral edge of the flange I64 through connectionsincluding a bell crank, one arm 288 of which carries a roller 280 cooperating with the cam 286. The second arm 282 of the bell crank is connected by a link 294 to the camarm 285 and a spring 296 connected to the latter is arranged to urge the cam arm into an upwardly rocked position. As illustrated in Fig. 6, the high points 281 of the cam 286 operate to effect the downward rocking movement in timed relation to the arrival of successive cleaned containers past the discharge station. As shown in side elevation in Fig. 5' they bell-crank member is pivotally mounted in a bracket 288 secured to the stationary cam I58. The cam I48 is likewise connected byextensionmembers 300 to the stationary cam I58. The linkage to the cam arm 285 is arranged to extend through a slotted opening 302 in the stationary cam I48. In operation, during the continuous movement of the carrier unit I0, the roller I50 is guided by the cam arm 285 into engagement with the stationary cam I48 which operates to hold the platforms I34 flush with the stationary platform I30 until they pass the receiving station, as above described. The toothed member 284, as illustrated'in Fig. 3, is arranged to be continuously rotated in timed relation to the movement of the carrier unit I0 by the gear 88 which isarranged to mesh with a gear 304 fast on the lower end of a vertical shaft 306 upon the upper end of which the toothed member is mounted. Thus successive cleaned containers are transferred into the discharge end of the conveyor belt I8 to be carried away from the machine.

From the above description it will be observed that the'present construction of container cleaning machine enables the continuously rotating container supporting and cleaning unit to receive and discharge successive containers from spaced points on the rotary unit with the containers disposed in an upright vertical position, thu providing a smoothly operating and efficient transferring mechanism capable of operation at a relatively high rate of speed. It will also be observed that the present construction of cleaning mechanism enables the containers to be pneumatically cleaned by a positive blowing action and that the foreign matter thus removed may be carried away by suction mechanism in a sim ple and efilcient manner.

While the preferred embodimnet of the inven-v tion has been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms Within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A container cleaning machine of the character described having, in combination, a rotary carrier provided with a plurality of radially arranged cleaning heads, a plurality of individual container supporting members mounted on and movable with said carrier and engageable with the bottoms of the containers, said container supporting members being arranged to dispose the containers in radial alignment with their respective cleaning heads during the cleaning operation, means for performing the cleaning operation While the containers are in a substantially inverted position, container delivery means, container discharging means spaced from said delivery means, and means for moving and maintaining said individual supporting members in a vertical position with relation to said carrier as they pass said delivery and discharge means, whereby to enable the containers to be delivered to and discharged from spaced points on the carrier in a substantially upright position during the continuous movement thereof.

2. In a container cleaning machine for clean-' ing the interior of containers, in combination, a rotary carrier rotatable in a vertical plane and provided with a plurality of radially arranged cleaning heads, a plurality of individual container supporting members pivotally mounted on said carrier and rotatable therewith, said container supporting members being arranged to engage the bottoms of their respective containers, a container receiving station and a container discharging station disposed upon either side of a vertical centerline through said rotary carrier, and means for rocking said pivotal supporting members to cause them to assume a position in radial alignment with their respective cleaning heads during the cleaning operation, and to assume and maintain a vertical position with relation to the carrier as they pass said receiving and discharging stations during the continuous movement of the carrier.

3. In a container cleaning machine for cleaning the interior of containers, in combination,'a continuously rotated carrier rotatable in a vertical plane and provided with a plurality of radially arranged cleaning heads, a plurality of container individual supporting members pivotally mounted on said carrier and rotatable therewith, said container supporting members being arranged to engage the bottoms of their respective containers, a conveyer for feeding successive containers into the machine, transfer mechanism for delivering successive containers in an upright position from the conveyer tosuccessive supporting members, a second transfer mechanism spaced from said first transfer mechanism and arranged to discharge successive cleaned containers from the carrier back onto said conveyer, and means for rocking said pivotal supporting members to cause them to assume a position in radial alignment with their respective cleaning heads during the cleaning operation, and to assume and maintain a vertical position with relation to the carrier as they pass said transfer mechanisms, whereby to enable the containers to be received and discharged by said carrier at spaced points thereon in a substantially upright position during the continuous movement of the carrier.

4. In a container cleaning machine for cleaning the interior of containers, in combination, a rotary carrier having a hub and provided with a plurality of radially arranged cleaning heads, a plurality of container supporting members mounted on said carrier and arranged to dispose the containers in radial alignment with their respective cleaning heads during the cleaning operation, each of said cleaning heads including an air nozzle arranged to be inserted into and withdrawn from their respective containers, blower operated means operatively associated with said nozzle to perform the cleaning operation, each of said nozzles being mounted to be longitudinally displaced from its normally extended position in the event that it encounters an obstacle in its path during the inserting movement, and to be automatically returned to its normally extended position by engagement with said hub during the withdrawal movement.

5. A container cleaning machine of the character described having, in combination, a rotary carrier provided with a plurality of radially arranged cleaning heads, a plurality of individual container supporting members mounted on and movable with said carrier and arranged to dispose the containers in radial alignment with their respective cleaning heads during the time the containers a're in a substantially inverted position, means for performing the cleaning operation during such time, each of said supporting members including a clamping member arranged to engage the base of its container, container delivery means, container discharging means spaced from said delivery means, means for moving and maintaining said supporting members in a vertical position with relation to said carrier as they pass said delivery and discharge means, and means for maintaining the base engaging portion of each clamping member in the same horizontal plane during such vertical movement, whereby to permit the containers to be delivered to and discharged from spaced points on the carrier in an upright position during the continuous movement thereof.

ARTHUR CLARENCE EVERETT. 

